Steve Donahue is the 20th head basketball coach at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the only coach in the Ivy League history to head up two different programs to conference championships. The two are Cornell (2008-2010) and Penn (2018). Coach Donahue also won 100 conference games alongside 6 other coaches in the Ancient Eight history. Following the season, this great coach was named Ivy League Coach of the Year, as well as ECAC Coach of the Year, and then rounded it off with NABC District 13 Coach of the Year. Coach Donahue offers some advice to high school athletes who are looking to play at the next level.

2aDays: What is the most important quality you look for in a recruit?

Put simply, what type of kid is he. We try to talk to as many people who know a recruit as possible so we can determine whether or not the kid is of the highest character.

2aDays: What is the best way for a recruit to get on your radar?

If they're unknown to us, attending one of our elite camps is the best thing they can do. It's a smaller setting where they'll get directly evaluated by our coaches.

2aDays: When should an athlete contact you, what is the best way (age, grade, time of year, email, phone, or other)?

Probably around sophomore year. And the best way to contact us is typically in person at one of our elite camps. We get so many emails and stuff that it all blends together.

2aDays: What are your expectations for incoming players in the classroom, in the weight room, and on the court?

Academics is always priority one. We don't want that to be an issue that the coaches hear about. Other than that we want each player to compete relentlessly on and off the court – in the classroom, in the weight room, etc.

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2aDays: What are the do's and don'ts of being recruited?

Don't relentlessly email coaches. The emails are heavily overlooked. Do be present to coaches when you can – on-campus events, etc. And be engaging and conversational.

2aDays: What is the best advice you can offer a recruit?

Focus on being an unbelievable student and an incredible player and teammate. If you do that, the rest will take care of itself, and the recruiting will handle itself.

2aDays: What jumps out to you when reviewing a recruit's highlight tape?

Shooting and how he reacts to different (primarily negative) situations in a game.

2aDays: What are the main do's and don'ts for a recruit's highlight tape?

Don't just put made shots. Show that you're a well-rounded player…including being a tremendous teammate.

2aDays: When do you recommend recruits put together and share their highlight reels?

Is it best to make their highlight reel during the offseason, in the middle of the season, or after each game.

Make it during the off-season. That way you can include a higher quantity of game footage.

2aDays: What advice do you have for recruits who get turned down by their dream schools? What are their options if they don't gain the recruiting attention they desire?

Everything happens for a reason. So many people get turned down from their dream schools. Make the most of whatever situation is presented to you. Always have backup plans besides your dream school, even if it doesn't involve playing a sport.

2aDays: How big a factor is social media when recruiting players? What advice do you have for athletes regarding social media?

Huge factor! We've stopped recruiting players because of things they post or share or retweet. Coaches are looking at all sorts of social media to gain a full understanding of who the person is.

Have a story idea or know an awesome athlete/coach we should interview? Email us at [email protected]

* Originally published on June 2, 2022, by Justin Dechiario